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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 120 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: stick · kick · pitcher · leaves · bore · tube · current · mark

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  11. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  12. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. I'll be taking the ________________.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. mark — a grade
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. current — happening now
  7. bore — to tire
  8. current — of water
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. kick — in football
  11. kick — a thrill
  12. kick — with a leg
  13. mark — a trace
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. tube — a container
  18. stick — to attach or keep to
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. bore — to drill
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. tube — the underground
  24. tube — in a tire

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com